Three undercover training camps allegedly operated by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at Ibusa, Okpanam, and Illah communities of Delta state have been busted by the police.

Some members of the group who were paraded before newmen on Wednesday May 13, were accused of snatching and robbing police officers of their rifles since 2018. A skull of a victim which was allegedly recovered from one of the camps, was displayed during the parade.

Delta Police Commissioner, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa said some of the suspects were involved in killing of policemen at various points and snatching of 16 rifles which belongs to the Nigerian Police Force, were arrested following a tip-off.

Inuwa said confessional statements from some of the key suspects, led to the recovery of rifles and ammunition at Ugwu-Nwosu Camp, one of the three IPOB camps in Delta State. The recovered rifles include 10 AK-47s with breech numbers 109003, 533353, 009981, 59280, 26240, 06515, 4837, 6466, 2581 and 340967. 10 magazine and 200 rounds of AK-47 ammunition were also recovered.

The police commissioner further disclosed that one of the suspects, Christian Ndiogulu led operatives to IPOB training camp at Ibusa where one AK47 with its magazine and 26 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition snatched from safer highway patrol team along Ogwashi/Kwale road in January this year, was recovered from where they were buried in the camp.

Two other suspects also led operatives to Idumugo forest in Okpanam where two AK47 rifles, one smoke gun, one smoke canister, four AK47 magazines, 212 7.62mm AK47 ammunition, one MP3, a set of Allen keys and one hand bag were recovered.

Inuwa said;

“Following recent series of attack on policemen at nipping points and snatching of police rifles by suspected members of outlawed IPOB in Asaba, the command’s sustained efforts in the investigation of the attacks and snatching of police rifles and ammunition in the state yielded desired results when some principal suspects with strong link to the proscribed IPoB were arrested and made confessional statements.

“After a diligent and painstaking investigation, on April 5 at about 2015 hours, while acting on the confession of the arrested key principal suspects, police detectives recovered the following arms and ammunition snatched from policemen from Ugwunwosu Camp of the proscribed IPoB- 10 AK-47 rifles with breech numbers 109003, 533353, 59280, 26240, 06515, 4837, 6466, 2581, 340967, 10 magazines with 200 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.

“Also on April 24 at about 1230 hours, one of the suspects, Christian led police operatives to the proscribed IPoB training camp at Ibusa, where one AK-47 rifle with breech number BA 354592, with its magazine and 26 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition robbed from Safer Highway Patrol team, along Ogwashi-Uku-Kwale road, by Obasanjo Farms on January 23, 2020 was recovered from where buried in the camp.

“Similarly, on April 29, at about 2340 hours, two of the suspects led the operatives to Idumogi forest in Okpanam where the following robbed police arms were recovered from where buried, two AK-47 rifles with breech Nos. 60037 and 3891, one smoke gunner with breech number 2849197, one smoke canister, four AK-47 magazines, 212 (7.62 mm) AK-47 ammunition, one MP3, a set of Allen keys and one handbag.

“Meanwhile, a total of 13 police AK-47 rifles with ammunition robbed during attacks on policemen in the state, over the years, have been recovered. Investigation is still in progress.”